Tongue switch



l. B. KIMMEL TONGUE SWITCH April 12, 1932.

Filed Sept. 24 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTQR U [54/3 15 ff/m/w -Lh BY HIS .AT

III/II TORNEYS April 12, 1932. l; B. KIMMEL 1,

TONGUE SWITCH Filed Sept. 24, 1951 ZSheets-Sheet 2 BY HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 12, 1932 i m w sir rsAIAnB. KIMMEL, onionnsrown, rnnnsxtvnnia p1 roivenn swrrcn "Application filed. Septeniber 34; 1931'; .rseriailno. 564,938. f

This invention relates to railway switches andmore particularly to railway switches oili the movable tongue-type. 1 I Y One of the objects of the invention is to V F provide an improved movable tongue Switch Other objectsfand-advantages will becomeinvention .-is more apparent as the present fully disclosed;

In accordanceent invention I have found that a marked increase in the life and-durability of a mova- 'b'letongue switch may be obtained by providing'a double bearing pivoting means for the ton ue heel and by providing means to take I tra oloads ofi' from the saidpivotal joint. I w or also prolong the operating life of such a switch by providing Ineansto prevent vertical displacement "of the switch tongue'dii-ring the passage of trafiic loads therethrough. The

specific pivoting means of thefpresent in-venwhereinahollow pin member integral with thetongue heelis provided having inside and outside bearing faces; the outer bearing face engaging in a bearing recess in the switch base over the tongue heel and to be rigidlyattached to the switch base, the plate "member having rail extensions forming flange ways upon its upper face adapted to'align with the rails of the switch base to carry the car The full wheels over the pivotal joint. weight of the railroad cars'passing through the switch is thus taken ofi" from the tongue heel pivotal joint and deleterious displacement of the tongue point due to rocking of the heel bearing or pivotal j oint'is thereby elimi- '15 V 7 8 extended to cover lateral base extension memwith objects-of the pres tion comprises a double bearing structure nated. The area of the plate element may be 'bers on the-tongue; ifdesi iiedfas-will be more fully hereinafter'disolosed. r

Before further disclosing the nature andscope of the present invention reference should be made to the accompanying 'draw- 1 1ngs wherein Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive illustrate onernodification of the-present inyentiomT-and" i F '1-gs. 8 to 12 inclusi-veil-lnstrate -a'seco rd modification'oflthe same." 71 1 Referring 'to'Figs'. 1' 'to 7' inclusive, Fig.1 shows a top View of a simple type 0f Inovable tongue switch incorporating"the novel. type of heel bearing-andprotecting the present invention;

P e c Fig. 2is a sectional View along plane 2 2, Fig. 1'; I

Fig. 3 is a t'op'view of the tong-ue swit'ch; I

showing the hollow heel extension member; Fig. 4 is atop view of the protecting plateshowing the rail extension or fljangeway means thereon; V f 7 Fig-.b'is a sectional viewof the main switch casting showing the bearing recess therein; Fig. 6 is -a cross-sectional View along plane 66,Fig.1; '1' Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view along plane '7-'?, Fig. l; a

Fig, *8 is a'topview of the second type or switch; 1 Fig.9 is a sectional view along'plane 9 9, F Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view along plane-10 1 O;,Fig."8';

joint,'the flange extensions of said'plate befeature involved. v v v i In Figs. "Ito 7 inclusive, 1 is a usual type PA H-m v Fig. 12 is a topv-i ewof the switch tongue I "withthe heel l'ocatedin position ina switch 'baserecess and the {protectingplate 4 in position to form 'the' don ble bearing pivotal i-ngbroken awayto illustrate the overlapping adapted to be positioned therein. The diameter of bearing recess '6is substantially the same as but larger than the outside diameter of hollow pin member 3. The abutting faces of elements 3, 6 and 9 are adapted to serve as bearing faces. Space 10 in the'tubular extension element 9 may be packed with oil Waste to facilitate the bearingaction of the elements. When plate 4 is rigidly attached to base 1 by means 5.hollow pin member 3 should be free to rotate in recess 6 within the limited degree required for the desired switching action.

Referring to Figs. 8 to l? inclusive, an adaptation of the double bearing pivotal switch joint and protecting plate feature of Figs. lto 7 inclusive to a difierent type of movable tongue switch is shown.

The movable tongue switch of Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive comprises a switch base 1, a movable switch tongue 2 having a hollow pin extension member 3 upon the tongue heel thereof, as in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive. The tongue element 2, however, has laterally extending flangemembers 11 on the base thereof serving the dual purpose of supporting the switch tongue upon the switch base 1 and of providing means such as indicated at 12 to engage with a spring switching means 13. I propose toextend sections 14: and 15 of protective plate 4 to entirely cover and protect the flange extension members 11, in a manner clearly indicated in Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive. The entire plate can be attached to the switch base 1 by means 5 as indicated. Thisprovides a complete protecting shield for the movable switch tongue. and positively prevents vertical displacement of the tongue from its desired switching position while traffic loads are passing through the switch.

.From the above description and drawings it is apparent that there may be many modifications and departures made in the present invention without departing essentially from the nature and scope thereof as may be set forth in the following claims What I claim is: 3 V r 1. A railroad switch of the, movable tongue type comprising a switch base, a movable switch tongue and doublebearing pivotal means for said switch tongue, said means comprising a hollow pin extension member on the switch tongue heel, bearing faces in the inner and outer surfaces of said pin extension member,ia bearing recess in said switch base adaptedto receive the pin extension member and to engage the Outer bearing surface thereof, and a protecting plate member adapted to be seated upon the switch base above the tongue heel and to be firmly secured thereto, a tubular extension member upon the under surface of said plate adapted to enter the hollow pin member of said tongue heel and to engage the bearing surface thereof, and rail extension means upon the upper face of said plate adapted to align with the switch base rails to form continuations thereof over and across the switch pivoting joint.

2. A railroad switch of the movable tongue type comp rising a switch base, a movable switch tongue having laterally extending base flange-s, double bearing pivotal means for said switch tongue, and means to prevent vertical displacement of the switch tongue during the passage of a traffic load therethrough, said double bearing switching means comprising a hollow pin extension member on the switch tongue heel, bearing faces in the inner and outer surfaces of said pin extension member, a bearing recess in said switch base adapted to receive the pin extension member and to engage the outer bearing surface thereof, and a protecting plate member adapted to be seated upon the switch base above the tongue heel and to be firmly secured thereto, a tubular extension member upon the under surface of said plate adaptedto enter the hollow pinmember of said tongue heel and to engage the bearing surface thereof and said means to prevent vertical displacement of the switch tongue comprising rail extension means upon the upper surface of said plate adapted to align with the switch base rails to form continuations thereof over and across the switch pivotal joint, and extension means on said plate adapted to extend in overlapping relationship with the laterally extending base flanges on said switch tongue.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

ISAIAH B. KIMMEL. 

